# First name with most spelling variations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 25, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483 "2010-06-25T13:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/1 "2010-06-25T13:38:10Z")
What common first name has the most spelling variations with the same pronunciation? For instance, Mohammed and Muhammed are pronounced the same, but Mahmoud isn’t, so doesn’t count. Neither does Joe/Jose. Neither does Jon/John, as Jon is usually short for Jonathan. I’m thinking that the winner has to be Kristin/Kristen/Christin/Christen etc. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/2 "2010-06-25T13:50:45Z")
I would guess “Caitlin.” Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin, Katelynn, Katlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katlynn, Kaitlin, Caitlyn, Caitlynn. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/3 "2010-06-25T14:11:39Z")
I’ve seen Vikki, Vikky, Viki, Vykki, and Vycci. Seriously, the last one I just talked to a few minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/4 "2010-06-25T14:18:01Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I’ve seen Vikki, Vikky, Viki, Vykki, and Vycci. Seriously, the last one I just talked to a few minutes ago. Vicki, Vickie, Vicky? Some of those are short for Victoria, but others clearly are not. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/5 "2010-06-25T14:18:25Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I’ve seen Vikki, Vikky, Viki, Vykki, and Vycci. Seriously, the last one I just talked to a few minutes ago. What about Vicki and Vicky? However Catherine/Katharine/Cathrin/etc. has a lot of variations. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/6 "2010-06-25T14:51:19Z")
From [Thinkbabynames.com](http://Thinkbabynames.com): > [@](#): > > Catherine has 191 variant forms: Cait, Caitey, Caitie, Caitlin, Caitlinn, Caitrin, Caitrine, Caitrinn, Caitriona, Caitrionagh, Caity, Caren, Cari, Carin, Caron, Caronne, Carren, Carri, Carrin, Carron, Caryn, Carynn, Cass, Cassey, Cassi, Cassie, Cassy, Cat, Cataleen, Cataleena, Catalin, Catalina, Cataline, Catarina, Catarine, Cate, Cateline, Caterina, Catey, Catha, Cathaleen, Cathaline, Catharin, Cathatina, Catharina, Catharine, Cathatyna, Catharyne, Cathe, Cathee, Cathelin, Cathelina, Cathelle, Catherin, Catherina, Catherinn, Catheryn, Cathi, Cathie, Cathirin, Cathiryn, Cathleen, Cathlene, Cathline, Cathlyne, Cathrine, Cathrinn, Cathryn, Cathrynn, Cathy, Cathye, Cathyleen, Cati, Catia, Catie, Catlina, Catlaina, Catreena, Catrin, Catrina, Catrine, Catrine, Catriona, Catrionagh, Catryna, Caty, Cay, Caye, Cazzy, Ekaterina, Kait, Kaitey, Kaitie, Kaitlin, Kaitlinne, Kaitrin, Kaitrine, Kaitrinna, Kaitriona, Kaitrionaugh, Kaity, Karen, Karena, Kari, Karin, Karon, Karri, Karrin, Karyn, Karynn, Kasia, Kasienka, Kasja, Kaska, Kass, Kassey, Kassia, Kassy, Kasya, Kat, Kata, Kataleen, Katalin, Katalina, Katarina, Katchen, Kate, Katee, Katell, Katelle, Katenka, Katerina, Katerinka, Katey, Katinka, Katha, Katharine, Katharyn, Katharyne, Kathee, Kathelina, Katheline, Katherin, Katherina, Katherine, Katheryn, Katherynn, Kathi, Kathie, Kathileen, Kathiryn, Kathleen, Kathlene, Kathleyn, Kathline, Kathyleen, Kathrine, Kathrinna, Kathryn, Kathryne, Kathy, Kathyrine, Kati, Katica, Katie, Katina, Katka, Katla, Katlaina, Katleen, Katoushka, Katrena, Katrine, Katrina, Katriona, Katrionaugh, Katryna, Katushka, Katy, Katya, Kay, Kaye, Kit, Kittee, Kittie, Kitty, Trina, Trine, Trinette, Yekaterin and Yekaterina. Many of these don’t really fit into the question raised by the OP, but you’re still left with around 100 that do. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/7 "2010-06-25T18:27:08Z")
I think ‘Monique’ may have a lot of spelling variations. Recently, I saw it spelled ‘Maniaq’- LOL! ‘Meet my daughter, Maniac!’ ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/8 "2010-06-25T18:45:16Z")
“Your daughter’s a maniac, a maniac on the floor…” I agree with Catherine and all variations thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/9 "2010-06-25T21:27:38Z")
First one to come to mind: Antoine. Sean is another. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/10 "2010-06-25T21:54:48Z")
My biggest problem is with Alan, Allan, Allen. My boss is one of them and I always have to look it up to get it right. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/11 "2010-06-26T01:17:42Z")
There’s Marc, and Mark and Marq and Marck and Marke I’ve known people with all those spellings and none were short for anything ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/12 "2010-06-26T02:55:05Z")
Antoine is pretty bad. A fun thing to do is look at early NFL preseason rosters and see how many different spellings of Antoine you can find. Highest I’ve seen is the low teens, and that wasn’t counting Antonio. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/13 "2010-06-26T03:20:40Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > I would guess “Caitlin.” > > Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin, Katelynn, Katlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katlynn, Kaitlin, Caitlyn, Caitlynn. Technically, Caitlin is the Irish version of Kathleen, and is pronounced similarly. Kaitlin, Catelynn, and all those are pronounced a bit differently. Probably won’t win, but: Carrie, Cary\*, Kari, Cari, Kerry, Kerri, Keri, Carey, etc. I guess we should set a bar that each variant has to be in the top x names or appear on a baby name site or something. Else I could just say that Kreiaghhhj is a variant of “Craig.” \*Usually male ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/14 "2010-06-26T08:09:37Z")
I agree that it’s gotta be Katherine, with at least 32 variants, NOT including variants such as “Katharine” that would have three distinct syllables, or “Katrine” which would be pronounced differently. Cathrin, Cathryn, Cathrinn, Cathrynn Cathrine, Cathryne, Cathrinne, Cathrynne Catherin, Catheryn, Catherinn, Catherynn Catherine, Catheryne, Catherinne, Catherynne Kathrin, Kathryn, Kathrinn, Kathrynn Kathrine, Kathryne, Kathrinne, Kathrynne Katherin, Katheryn, Katherinn, Katherynn Kattherine, Katheryne, Katherinne, Katherynne ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/15 "2010-06-26T14:02:44Z")
But K and C are pretty much interchangeable so that gives names with K and or C (as well as S and C) an advantage 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/16 "2010-06-26T14:13:21Z")
Lindsay has got to be up there somewhere, and in the running for surname as well. From “Clan Lindsay” on wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Spellings > The Lindsays are arguably the clan with the most diverse variations when it comes to spelling their name. Known spellings include: > > Limesay Linday Linde Lindeci Lindensay Lindesa Lindesaia Lindesaie Lindesans Lindesay Lindesaye Lindese Lindesee Lindesei Lindeseia Lindeseie Lindesey Lindesi Lindesie Lindesins Lindessay Lindessaya Lindessaye Lindessey Lindesseye Lindessi Lindesy Lindesye Lindeszey Lindey Lindiesay Lindisay Lindisin Lindissa Lindissai Lindissay Lindisseia Lindsa Lindsai Lindsay Lindsaye Lindsey Lindsseie Lindyesaye Lindyssay Lindyssey Linsai Linsaie Linsay Linsey Linsee Linsley Linzee Lyncay Lynde Lynddesai Lynddessay Lynddessaye Lyndesai Lyndesay Lyndeseia Lyndeseie Lyndesey Lyndeseye Lyndesheie Lyndeshey Lyndesie Lyndesins Lyndessai Lyndessay Lyndessaye Lyndessey Lyndessy Lyndesy Lyndesya Lyndey Lyndezay Lyndisay Lyndissai Lyndissay Lyndisseye Lyndsa Lyndsaia Lyndsaie Lyndsay Lyndsey Lyndseye Lyndsy Lyndysay Lyndyssay Lyndyssey Lynsay Lynse Lynsey [Clan Lindsay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Lindsay#Spellings) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/17 "2010-06-26T14:49:07Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Technically, Caitlin is the Irish version of Kathleen, and is pronounced similarly. Kaitlin, Catelynn, and all those are pronounced a bit differently. > > Probably won’t win, but: > > Carrie, Cary\*, Kari, Cari, Kerry, Kerri, Keri, Carey, etc. > > I guess we should set a bar that each variant has to be in the top x names or appear on a baby name site or something. Else I could just say that Kreiaghhhj is a variant of “Craig.” > > \*Usually male Do you count Carrie and Kerry as variants of the same name? > [@Blue\_Mood](#): > > I agree that it’s gotta be Katherine, with at least 32 variants, NOT including variants such as “Katharine” that would have three distinct syllables, or “Katrine” which would be pronounced differently. > > Cathrin, Cathryn, Cathrinn, Cathrynn > Cathrine, Cathryne, Cathrinne, Cathrynne > > Catherin, Catheryn, Catherinn, Catherynn > Catherine, Catheryne, Catherinne, Catherynne > > Kathrin, Kathryn, Kathrinn, Kathrynn > Kathrine, Kathryne, Kathrinne, Kathrynne > > Katherin, Katheryn, Katherinn, Katherynn > Kattherine, Katheryne, Katherinne, Katherynne Yup, gotta be Catherine. Especially since you could include Katharine/Catharine with an a, too, as I’ve known a few people with that spelling who’ve pronounced it with two syllables, just like the spelling with an e. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/18 "2010-06-26T18:55:52Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > Do you count Carrie and Kerry as variants of the same name? Etymologically and literally? No. But in practice, someone wants to name their precious Carrie, so decides to go with Kerry or invent Kerreigh or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/19 "2010-06-26T19:13:39Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Etymologically and literally? No. But in practice, someone wants to name their precious Carrie, so decides to go with Kerry or invent Kerreigh or whatever. I think that would only be in those areas where Kerry and Carrie sound the same. I thought that, even there, people would be aware they’re not the same name, just like I know that write and right aren’t the same word. ---
**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483/20 "2010-06-27T03:38:48Z")
You wouldn’t really think there could be many variations to Denise, but, behold: Deniece, Dennise, Denyse, Deneese, Denese, Danise I’ve even seen a D’nise. Sheesh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-name-with-most-spelling-variations/544483.md?page=2)